The Toll Gate boys soccer team fell in penalty kicks to Scituate in the Division IV State Championship on Sunday night at Cranston Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 in the second half, Toll Gate would force overtime when leading scorer Aiden Preuit broke away and scored the tying goal to make it 2-2.

After two scoreless overtime periods, the clubs went to penalty kicks and the Spartans would take the 5-3 victory to clinch the crown.

Toll Gate’s Christian Dias would score the game’s first goal on a free kick which would give the Titans the 1-0 advantage at halftime. Scituate came out more aggressive in the second half and would get consecutive goals in a two-minute span to take the 2-1 lead.

“It is what it is. They came at us and pressured us for the first 10, 15 minutes (of the second half). After the second goal, we got the game back under control and had a few opportunities to score,” said Toll Gate coach Jason Melo, who was proud of Preuit having another big performance on the biggest stage. “A play like that can lift a team’s spirit. It’s different when Aiden scores, he lifts the team up so much just by his work ethic. I can’t explain it. He’s had a hell of a year and I wish it was him raising that MVP trophy.”

The Titans went 1-0-1 against the Spartans in the regular season but were not able to hang on to the lead on Sunday. Toll Gate is set to return a large core next year, including Preuit, and Melo hopes that the tough loss will drive them moving forward.

“This will sting for a couple weeks, but going into next year, that drive and determination will be 10 times higher than it was this year. In the long run they’ll appreciate this loss,” said Melo.

The Titans enjoyed a big turnaround season after failing to reach the playoff last year and finishing the regular season unbeaten this time around. First year coach Melo will miss the seniors who helped guide the young roster.

“Those seniors, especially those captains, they were so important to the squad this year. They were the coaches out on the field from the beginning of the year to now,” said Melo. “It sucks that we couldn’t send them out on their high horse, but it’s just the way sports go.”

Toll Gate keeper Robert Caruso finished the game with seven saves while Edrees Heidari got an assist. Dias, Preuit and Heidari scored the team’s three penalty kick goals.